With Friday as the deadline for restricted free agents to sign with another team, and quarterback Drew Brees' salary figure under his exclusive bargaining rights tag expected to rise to around $16.3 million, it was believed General Manager Mickey Loomis might have to let a player go to make cap space.

Jabari GreerContract worth approximately $23 million

Instead, Loomis restructured and extended the contract of cornerback Jabari Greer, locking up the team's top cover man for another three seasons.

The Saints and Greer reached a three-year extension, worth in the neighborhood of $23 million. Greer, the team's top cornerback since signing in 2009, confirmed the news in a text, saying he's excited about the deal.

The Saints won the Super Bowl in Greer's first season and have made the playoffs each year he has been with the team. Greer had 71 tackles last season with one interception and 18 passes defensed while generally covering the opponent's top receiver.

Earlier this season, the Saints lost Greer's counterpart, Super Bowl hero Tracy Porter, who signed with the Denver Broncos. Third-year man Patrick Robinson is expected to replace Porter, and second-year man Johnny Patrick will be the third corner.

CASILLAS TO STAY: Linebacker Jonathan Casillas, who had visited with the Tennessee Titans and fielded interest from other teams, is likely to sign his tender offer with the Saints, according to a league source. The signature is expected in the next couple of days.

The Saints had put a first right of refusal tender offer on Casillas, which would mean a one-year contract for approximately $1.26 million; another team would not face a draft-pick compansation if it signed him.

The move is unlikely to come as a complete surprise to the Saints. Last week, Loomis had Casillas slotted as a starting linebacker along with Jonathan Vilma and Curtis Lofton on his pre-draft whiteboard.

Casillas, 6 feet 1, 227 pounds, has shown playmaking ability since he made the team as an undrafted free agent from Wisconsin in 2009. He was playing with the first team in camp in 2010 before a foot injury cost him the season. Last season, he played in 13 games with four starts, making 33 solo tackles and 24 assists. He also had three sacks and defended three passes.

But in 2011, injuries again hampered him. He was inactive with a knee injury for three regular-season games and the wild-card victory against Detroit.

Casillas has appeared in 24 games with six starts, making 44 solo tackles and 33 assists.